Large crowds are expected to be in town to celebrate New Year's Eve on Monday. Then on Wednesday, Florida Gators and Louisville Cardinals fans will rock the Superdome for the Allstate Sugar Bowl.

There are only 43 days left until Mardi Gras takes over the city. The first parade of the carnival rolls on Jan. 19. All eyes will be on the Crescent City as the Super Bowl is played right in the middle of Mardi Gras on Feb. 3.

The crowds were already out in force on Sunday.

"We're in town to celebrate the new year in style in New Orleans," said Clare Winfrey.

Some are in town just for the bowl game.

"Sugar Bowl only, absolutely, that's why we're here is for the Sugar Bowl," said Brian Chandler, who is in town with his family. "It has nothing to do with New Year's, but this is a bonus."

Jacob Bockton is in New Orleans with several friends just looking to have a good time in the Big Easy.

"Just hang out on Bourbon Street, the French Quarter," he said. "It's my favorite place to party in the whole U.S. I've been everywhere, and it's my favorite place."

That's a sentiment echoed by many travelers. Travel and Leisure magazine named New Orleans as its No. 1 city to visit for a New Year’s Eve vacation. It's one of many honors New Orleans received on the magazine's "America's Favorite Cities" list.

"I think that says a lot about New Orleans, that it's a great place to be, great place to party, great place to eat and we're excited about that," said Mark Romig, CEO of New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation.

By Sunday night hotels in the metro area were 83 percent occupied. Romig said by New Year's Eve night, they're expecting to be in the 90 percent range.

"There's a lot of people that drive in from the region, so they'll be coming in as well," he said. "There's still good rooms to find, and a lot of restaurants that are open and ready to serve."

There will be a full show prepared for tourists and locals with the 2013 NOLA New Year's Eve celebration fireworks show and drop of the Fleur de Lis at Jackson Square.

"We expect anywhere from 50,000 and 100,000 people that are going to be down there," Romig said.

He said the economic impact of the New Year's celebration and Sugar Bowl week is around $150 million.

For those looking to get out to the New Year's Eve concert and countdown celebration, organizers said go early. Decatur Street from Dumaine Street to St. Louis Street in front of Jackson Square will be limited to one lane of traffic each way beginning at 8 a.m. Monday. Decatur Street from Wilkinson Street to Madison Street will be closed to traffic from 7 p.m. Monday until 2 a.m. New Year's Day.